Star of the Night! Kendall Walker Goes 3 for 3 with 5 RBI's."I really wanted to play! Coach Kaas knew that all season long. He said I had to prove myself. when I got the start against Wayne Millers-Graham Kapowsin it was time to make my starting debut in a big way. I went 3 for 3 with a single a double that scored one and a triple with bases loaded for another 3 runs. Nobody on the team expected that not even Kaas and I earned player of the game. Thanks Adam for all your time spent with me in the batting cage and pitching to me."

Kendall Walker

Kendall Walker makes cut after 3 year layoff at Kentlake.The Dream of one day playing any varsity sport or even for one of the top high school teams in Washington State is a huge feat for any new person trying out for the first time. Try taking three years off from a sport you love and then making "the cut" . That is what senior Kendall Walker at Kentlake had done! (click on header for full story details)

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

The Dream of one day playing any varsity sport or even for one of the top high school teams in Washington State is a huge feat for any new person trying out for the first time. Try taking three years off from a sport you love and then making "the cut" . That is what senior Kendall Walker at Kentlake had done!."I tried out and did my best. Coach Adam said he would prepare me not only to play fastpitch again but to be a starter for Kentlake. Adam spent the last three years helping coach the pitchers at Emerald Ridge battle against Kentlake. This time he is on Kentlake's side. We train up to 4 hours per day at LFA and at the ball park. I never trained so intense before. Adam had done this with so many other players in Washington. Long range I would like to tryout for Seattle University one day. Coach Adam took me serious and asked for 100% effort and dedication from me to accomplish and strive to achieve my goals. For me it was a chance I had to take and go for my dream of playing fastpitch again. After making the team, coach Kaas said to me that he liked what I could do and that I had raw talent. After telling my mom, she just cried and could not stop. I know Adam is very proud of me too."senior Kendall Walker.Some people call it a long shot or even a slim chance. Not for the Walker Family from Black Diamond,Washington.I got a phone call from Kim Walker asking about Fastpitch training for her daughter Kendall and that Kendall needed a refresher course in playing fastpitch and with one goal in mind, making the Varsity Team at Kentlake. Kendall had not played in three years and also at that time was playing Select Basketball. An injury prevented Kendall from playing any longer. Then the unexpected happened in her life to one of her close friends. Kendall's best friend and varsity basketball player lost her life in a sudden death illness. Shocking Kendall and really the rest of the school. Starting in March, Kendall now has earned the responsibility of Assistant Camp Coach to new Fastpitch members of all ages. I am pleased with her ability to articulate the mechanics of Throwing, Hitting Fundamentals and Basics of Pitching Mechanics." coach Adam." Ha Ha! I never expected to be an assistant camp coach at LFA at all! It is really fun and I can see myself as an assistant coach at LFA for some time in the future."Kendal."Kendall started losing her direction in life after losing her best friend. So I waited to see what would happen next and if Kendall would move on. Not happy with what Kendall was doing with her life I asked Kendall what she would like to accomplish since she can no longer play basketball? Kendall said Fastpitch. I knew she would have to train very hard and receive Select ASA Level Training in order to make the cut at Kentlake. Kendall decided then that is what she wanted to do. I was willing to travel to Vancouver or across Western Washington to train with the best. It was then that I found LFA on Google, there it was, La SernaFastpitch Academy right in our local area! So I called coach Adam and we arranged a training session. Right away I felt this would be a very positive training program for Kendall and I had prayed for a long time for something to come into her life to help turn things around for her. Coach Adam has been a blessing to us. I like to say to him, keep working your magic!"mom, Kim Walker."Thank you Adam for training Kendall in 2009-2010. She enjoys training at LFA and is trying out for Kentlake Fastpitch. Kendall has improved her conditioning and hitting. Kendall's goals are to make the Varsity team at Kentlake and one day play for Seattle University. You have been an answer to our prayers Adam.".Kim and Joel Walker,Black Diamond,WAKentlake Under the Lights.February 25th, 2010 at 3:58 pmby Theresa Crowley.This year, the Kentlake HS Fastpich team will be playing all their home games under the lights. Kentlake plays on the lighted King County fields adjacent to the school. In years past, Kentlake has scheduled a few night games, but this year has scheduled all home varsity games and a select number of JV games under the lights. While it will most definitely be colder in the early spring, the night games should attract more fans to the games.Scheduled start time for the night games is 7PM.

Kentlake Alumni:Kelsey Reynolds, Seattle U2009: Kelsey pitched in 22 games her junior season, compiling a 9-11 record with a 3.94 earned run average. One of her top performances of the season came when she pitched a complete game, giving up four hits and no earned runs in a victory over New Mexico March 19th. She appeared in 4 games in which she gave up no earned runs including a no-hit victory over Simon Fraser April 19th. Kelsey finished the season with 45 strikeouts in 131.1 inning of work.http://www.goseattleu.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=18200&ATCLID=1170586.Felicia Harris became Kentlake's career home run leader as a freshman by hitting six homers. Now a senior, she also holds the career record for RBI's, as well as strikeouts and wins by a pitcher. Felicia Harris is in the Children's Hospital Spotlight.A wall display at Kentlake High School recognizes students who have reached weightlifting milestones. Felicia Harris is one of two girls on the board, residing in the lofty 500 club, with single-rep bests of 210 pounds (squat), 185 (power clean) and 145 (bench)."Physically, she's the strongest kid I've ever been involved with," said Kentlake coach Greg Kaas. "Her weightlifting teacher tells me she's like nothing he's ever seen before."That equals power on the mound and at the plate.With Felicia's strength and size, it's easy to see how opponents might be just a little intimidated.So does she scare Kaas? "On the field she's absolutely focused and intense, so she's pretty intimidating," he said. "Then you meet her off the field and she's one of the nicest, most compassionate kids you'll find."Next fall, Harris will play division one softball for the hometown huskies.She's been First Team South Puget Sound League four years running. She's been named the league MVP the last three years. And to top it off, Felicia sports a 3.78 grade point average.Harris had arthroscopic surgery in October to repair a torn labrum in her shoulder - injured when diving back into a base during a club game in September. She plans to go easy on pitching until the postseason draws near."As long as I'm good for state," she said, "that's the most important.".2009 Reflection.Local teams fall short at league tournamentMay 14 2008.All hail the South !.That proved to be the case Friday and Saturday during the South Puget Sound League tournament at Service Park in Kent.The league's South Division banged around its North counterparts, nabbing the top three seeds for this Friday and Saturday' West Central District tournament. In a tournament that provided plenty of surprises or, more specifically, shocks North champion Kentlake lost both of its match-ups, falling to Emerald Ridge in its tournament opener, 5-4, and then to Puyallup, 7-2..May 22 2009.The Kentlake High fastpitch team had its back against the wall Friday afternoon at Sprinker Recreation Center in Spanaway..Righthanded pitcher Nikole Weber then delivered the gem the Falcons needed most. Weber struck out 11, scattered just five hits and walked one, leading the Falcons past Beamer 7-1 in a loser-out game at the Class 4A West Central District tournament."I really wanted to win that game because we wanted to keep going," said Weber, a junior. "It could have been the last game for our seniors, so I just kept pushing the whole time."The Falcons were in critical need of that extra push, too. Kentlake opened the tournament with a 4-1 loss to South Puget Sound League South Division power Rogers. One more loss would have ended the season for the Falcons (13-7).

Friday, October 9, 2009

Both. Megan Carver does both at Catcher,Shortstop and Pitcher with Acers 12u and now Starting Pitcher for Cascade Middle School..On a sunny day in October, a tired, over-worked 7th grader awakens for her morning and eats a big breakfast that includes a PB&J, goes to school, works hard-eats PB&J for lunch,comes home does homework,eats dinner, goes to batting practice,takes a break, begins Pitching practice with Coach Adam which takes 60 to 90 minutes of hard work and downs a water bottle, eats a PB&J. Goes home does her homework and gets to bed..Megan,tired and half awake gets up the next day to go to school,eats lunch has a PB&J,schools out, game starts at 3pm and throws strikes for 4 innings and game over, 28-0 against Rainier (probably has a PB&J after the game) then goes to Acers practice.Hard work or work hard? It's a choice not every athlete can make with a smile on their face. Megan has desire to be a starting pitcher,dedication to get the job done, determination to follow through with a plan, discipline to know right from wrong, dependable and on time, tries hard to do the right thing always and leads by example.

.

" I think Megan is kid with good stuff on and off the ball field, maybe an over achiever but she wants to make 2009 a year to remember. She has done that and more, an inspiration. Her peers and even some parents can learn from Megan about hard work, I know I have."-coach Adam

Monday, June 29, 2009

Hey everyone! I'm excited to finally have my own myspace page where I can connect with all my friends and fans. I am extremely blessed and grateful for all the support and prayers throughout my career. Please check back regularly for updates to my blog and announcements on upcoming events. I am also really excited about the launch of the new Jennie Finch store, so please check it out! This upcoming year is going to be busy, filled with lots of training and preparation as Team USA gets ready to repeat our winning performance in Beijing this summer. We look forward to bringing home the gold medal once again. ***PLEASE CHECK MY BLOG TO LEARN ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON IN MY LIFE. YOU CAN VISIT BY CLICKING JENNIEFINCH27.BLOGSPOT.COM AT ANY TIME.

.Michelle has been pitching alot. Today she went 4 innings and faced 15 batters. Walked 1 and Struck out 12!!

.

Thank you Adam,

.Joe and Karen Fowler , Acers-Kasner 12u

"Adam, Orion pitched in two games today for WST 12u and won both.

Her change-up were making batters look silly and sat four hitters down in a row.

Thank you for all your help this month at your pitching camp"

.

Thank you,Rob Shade, WST 12u

Seattle,WA

.

"As a dad/coach we learned so much about pitching and hitting in one night, my 13yo daughter is improving and now driving in game winning RBI's from both sides of the plate!"

.

Thank you Adam,Jeff and Chris Prigge

.

"Our daughter is now shutting down 12u LL Teams 15-0

and works harder at pitching than ever"

.

Jana and Troy Roy, FMF

"I was really impressed and very excited. For the past year, we've been working, working, working, and not seeing a lot of increase in speed or power.

With just a few simple observations and tips from you,

I saw a remarkable difference in her throwing.

Carly has a game tonight, and I'm excited to see a difference.

Please let me know if we'll have a set day/ time going forward,

or how the scheduling thing works with you.

.

Take care,Melissa Musser, Highline Nationals LL

DES MOINES, WA

"Thanks Adam !!! We are very proud of Stephanie.Sure she had some ups and downs during the season, but I believe that every pitcher has that.She is definately growing as not only a pitcher but as an athlete. We believe that she will lead her school to districts next year.Go Lady Lancers!! Now that school ball is over she can really focus on the Lady Viks.

I really would like to see her team get to the championship game of a tournament,

they have the talent so I know they can do it.

Steph just needs to keep up the good work and keep her bat going.

She is finding out that the new bat is way better!"

Thanks Adam for all your support.

.Terri Shupe

LAKES HIGH SCHOOL

LAKEWOOD ,WA

.

.

May 31,2009WST 14u2009 USSSABremerton Invite Champions.Starting Pitcher all 5 games, Sylvie Thomasthrows 28 innings faces 118 batters with only....1 walk!!."She did well. Pitched all 5 games, threw a no-hitter on Saturday and won the semi and championship games on Sunday. She only lost one game all weekend 3-2 to the team she beat in the championship game, all 3 runs were unearned." ..Thanks Adam!Coach/WST,

Jeff Thomas

Seattle,WA

.Hi Adam, College freshman year is over and Kelli is ready for off season Pitching Training and would like to train 3 days per week. By the way, her GPA was 4.0!

In the Video below we take a look at Michele Smith. Notice her Rhythm of the Wind-Up and where she places the ball durning the wind-up, and the deception of hiding the pitch being used by placing the throwing hand with ball behind her back. Understanding that at the World Class Olympic and Professional Levels, Michele simply has to perform Pitching Dynamics that will throw-off her opponents hitting against her and those wise-coaches looking to track Michele's grips and pitching characteristics that could tip-them-off to give them some what of an edge in World Class Competition. I admire and respect Michele as one of my favorites in Fastpitch History. A true living legend.

"I still see pretty good pitchers at the ball park with a weak-glove-hand, meaning...the pitcher is using less force on the downward motion of the glove-hand than the force of the downward motion of the pitching arm. Pitchers should use the whole body in the pitching motion with equal forces. Efficiency is the key to preventing imbalances and improving over-all Center of Gravity-Balance, strength and power. Its the art of pitching”– coach Adam

Watch any college or Olympic pitcher and check out how they use their glove hand to create dynamic bio-mechanics for creating more force with the total upper body motion of the pitching motion. Jennie Finch will create an inverted oblong circle with her glove hand during her pitching motion. Notice that the circle is creating negative resistance against the other arm and shoulder. It creates as biometric balance at the same time so that the upper body is more athletic and stable to withstand the dynamic forces of the glove hand circle. This energy or force transfers to the rest of the body for various purposes. The glove also adds a timing element of the release of the pitch. So does the front foot landing creating leverage and more forces and energy transfer.

Cat Osterman has different glove dynamics. Her gloves goes vertical, up-then-down without creating a circle of any kind or hardly any at all. Below is the link to Cat Osterman pitching in Athens.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6wphY2EqpE